Instagram message requests, explained
Instagram separates messages from people you know and people you do not. That protects users from spam, and it also means your carefully written DM may be waiting unread in a folder many people never open.
This guide explains how requests work for creators and how to get your DMs seen.
How the inbox is split
| Situation | Usually lands in |
|---|---|
| They follow you | Main inbox |
| They don't follow you | Requests |
| They messaged you first | Main inbox (it is their conversation) |
What Meta's documentation says
New conversations from people who do not follow the account land in the Requests folder. Messages in the Requests folder that stay inactive for 30 days are no longer returned to connected tools.
Why this matters for comment-to-DM
Many people who comment on a viral reel do not follow you yet. Their DM goes to Requests, they do not see it, and they comment "didn't get it". The automation worked; the message is just in another folder.
Help people find your DM
- Public reply: "Sent! Check your message requests."
- Mention it in the reel: "If you don't follow me, check requests."
- Ask for a follow before sending, with a gate, so the next message lands in the main inbox.
- Pin a comment explaining where the DM goes.
Follow gates and requests
A follow gate helps twice: it grows your account, and once someone follows, your future messages are more likely to land in their main inbox.
When they reply, it moves
Once someone replies to your message or accepts the request, the conversation moves to their main inbox. That is another reason to end your DM with a simple question they can answer.
What not to do
- Do not send repeated DMs to get attention; it looks like spam.
- Do not ask people to turn off message filters.
- Do not message people who never commented or replied.
Why Instagram filters messages
The Requests folder exists to protect people from spam and unwanted contact. It means your audience can choose who reaches them, which is good for creators too: people who accept your message request have decided to hear from you, and are more likely to read what you send next.
Write DMs that get accepted
- Open with what they asked for, so the preview makes sense: "Here's the recipe you wanted!"
- Use your name or brand clearly, so they recognise you.
- Keep the first line free of anything that looks like a sales pitch.
The first line shows in the request preview, so it decides whether they open it.
Requests and follow gates together
If you use a follow gate, the first message, asking for a follow, will usually land in Requests for non-followers. Make that first line clear and friendly. Once they follow and tap to check again, the link message is part of a conversation they have joined.
Checking from your side
Your tool's analytics show sends, not whether a message sat in Requests. If many people say they did not get a DM while your tool shows it sent, Requests is the likely reason.
Our pick: Tadlo AI
Tadlo AI
Our top pick
Best for: Getting DMs seen
Tadlo AI rotates public replies that can point people to their requests, offers a follow gate that checks through Instagram's API, and shows sends per flow in its analytics.
Price: Free forever plan with no card needed. Paid plans start at ₹249 a month in India or $5 a month elsewhere. Every plan, including Free, has unlimited automations and unlimited DMs (no monthly DM quota and no per-contact charge; sends are paced within Instagram's limits).
Strengths
- Unlimited DMs and automations on every plan, including Free, so a viral reel never raises your bill
- Verified follow gate: checks through Instagram's API whether the commenter really follows you before sending the link
- Comment-to-DM on any comment or chosen keywords, story reply automation and DM keyword flows in a visual flow builder
- Email capture, comment-to-product carousels and a link-in-bio page in the same tool
- Connects with Instagram Business Login on the official API, so no Facebook Page is needed
- AI reel analysis and analytics on paid plans
Limitations
- Facebook comment-to-DM and Messenger keyword replies are still being added
- Newer than ManyChat, so the template library and tutorial community are smaller
- The Free plan covers one Instagram account
- The Free plan adds a "via Tadlo" line to DMs and limits lead export to 100 leads
Frequently asked questions
Why do my auto-DMs go to message requests?
Because the person does not follow you. Messages from accounts they don't follow usually land in Requests.
How can I get my DMs into the main inbox?
Ask people to follow, or end your DM with a question; once they reply, the conversation moves to their main inbox.
Do message requests expire?
Meta's documentation says inactive conversations in Requests for 30 days are no longer returned to connected tools.
Can I see whether my DM is in someone's requests?
Not directly. Your tool shows that the message was sent; whether it sits in Requests depends on the person's settings and whether they follow you.
Should I tell commenters to check requests?
Yes. A short public reply like "Check your message requests" prevents most "didn't get it" comments.
Sources
- tadlo.ai: Tadlo AI plans and features. Plans, follow gate, A/B testing, carousels and analytics checked 16 October 2026.
- Instagram Messaging API (Meta),
developers.facebook.com/documentation/instagram-platform/instagram-api-with-instagram-login/messaging-api. Messaging window and requests folder; updated 28 September 2026. - Instagram private replies (Meta),
developers.facebook.com/documentation/instagram-platform/private-replies. Updated 30 June 2026.